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The beginning of something big?

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Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster - Christie's International Real Estate & Owner of Staged Home Decor MDRE#0648298

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Setting the Stage

Thoughts and facts in the life of an incredibly unique homestager and her "team"

 
The warehouses where my dream developed!

My love of all things beautiful for home began in childhood and then to the Antiques world as an adult. Growing up in Washington County, Maryland beauty and antiques abound. Living a home which is now 150 years old and on the Potomac River, I just loved dreaming and reading my mom's House Beautiful.
In the beginning, I thought I was just a genius..."I thought of a new thing". Boy was I wrong! Who knew this lady out on the west coast was doing this for decades now. I was working for a fabulous company at different locations in the US. I thought that was the best thing I could ever be doing. Setting up vignettes of furniture in wholesale warehouses so that a buyer could invision the product in their home and take ownership. While I was doing the general management duties, I got joy and relaxation in the concept I had brought to the company. Take the furniture and accessories from the stacks and shelves and merchandise it! Wow...sales skyrocketed and the system was born for them. Time goes by and then my talents were expanded to real estate.

Well, I needed to help my daughter and son in law sell their condo in NJ. It sold to the first couple in the house and I thought I was going to be developing some great thing, yeh right!

While working as a Corporate General Manager for the wholesale homefurnishings company my days and nights were consumed with the business and warehouses. I loved it, so I just didn't know what was happening on HGTV. As a matter of fact, I didn't watch anything but CNN and a movie on TV.

Finally, when I left the company after finding the love of my life (more to come on him) I decided to be self-employed again. Lightbulb in the head here! "I will set up houses for sale". Searching the web, I found how late I really was. Well, I needed to be Accredited by this "lady", Barb Schwarz. The journey began and here I am today, beginning yet another new thing for me. Blogging! I will be back often to tell my stories. Get ready...they are sometimes side-splitting. Followers

 

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Deb PortraitDeb Harshman, ASPM, REALTOR   

 Accredited Staging Professional Master

Pres. of Staged Home Decor 

IAHSP and RESA Member 

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Colleen Fischesser Northwest Property Shop
NextHome Experience - Chelan, WA
A Tradition of Trust in the Pacific NW since 1990!

Ohhhh Deborah, you have no idea! Welcome to Active Rain and when in doubt, blog anyway! You get out of it what you put into it and it's well worth your time....not just in terms of business, but knowledge as well as friendships made. Here's to a GREAT 2010 for you and your new venture!

Dec 30, 2009 07:45 AM
Deb Harshman
Long and Foster - Christie's International Real Estate & Owner of Staged Home Decor - Potomac, MD
REALTOR & ASPMaster Stager, The Selling Advantage

Thank you so much and here is to a GREAT 2010 to you too! I just made a new friend too, it seems.

Dec 30, 2009 08:00 AM
SHARON CHARBONEAU
UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - Sechelt, BC

Deborah,

Welcome to AR.  You will love the info here, assistance and interactions.

 

All the best to you and here's to a wake-up call across the nations of USA & Canada re: the value of home staging & re-design all thru 2010!

 

YEEEESSSSSSSSSSS!

 

GREETINGS FROM THE WEST COAST OF B.C. - HOME OF THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS

 

Dec 31, 2009 01:24 AM
Jill Schmidt
Aurora, CO

Welcome to AR and good luck in your new endeavor.  I must say that I love to peruse home stager warehouses!

Jan 01, 2010 05:41 AM
Monica Murphy
Preferred Staging, LLC - Potomac Falls, VA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA

Deb, Darling!  You've beaten my to the punch!  I'll be touting the benefits of AR at our next IAHSP meeting on Thursday night!  You are now my prime example!  SO glad to see you here - welcome to the Rain!

Monica

Jan 02, 2010 07:55 AM
Deb Harshman
Long and Foster - Christie's International Real Estate & Owner of Staged Home Decor - Potomac, MD
REALTOR & ASPMaster Stager, The Selling Advantage

Monica! Hi and  thanks so much for your comment. I am looking forward to hearing what wisdom you are going to share on Thursday.  I am just blinding tripping along with this endeavor. 

Thank you too Jill for taking time to comment and Sharon how nice to hear from you too.

Thanks to all for the words of encouragement.

Jan 02, 2010 09:31 AM
Michelle Pimentel
Empire Home Staging Solutions - Upland, CA
ASP, IAHSP Empire Home Staging

Deborah,

Welcome to Active Rain and congratulations on becoming an ASP! Looking forward to reading your future posts.  Best wishes for a successful 2010!

Jan 02, 2010 05:56 PM
Deb Harshman
Long and Foster - Christie's International Real Estate & Owner of Staged Home Decor - Potomac, MD
REALTOR & ASPMaster Stager, The Selling Advantage

Hi Michelle,

Great to hear from and thank you for reading and commenting!

Much success to you in 2010, as well!

 

Jan 04, 2010 12:58 AM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson
Grants Pass, OR - Bend, OR
The Savvy Broker - ABR, CRS

Hi Deborah ~ Welcome to Active Rain.  You are surrounded by kindred spirits and fellow ASP'rs :)

Jan 04, 2010 12:53 PM
Joan Inglis, Master Accredited Staging Professional
Carolina Spaces, LLC www.CarolinaSpaces.com - Charlotte, NC
Home Staging, Model Merchandising, Interior Design

Hi Deb!  I met you when I took ASPM in Alexandria and you hosted us for dinner at your home - Here's a belated thank you!!  Excuse my bad manners for not sending you a note.  Have a wonderful New Year! 

Jan 05, 2010 03:55 AM
Deb Harshman
Long and Foster - Christie's International Real Estate & Owner of Staged Home Decor - Potomac, MD
REALTOR & ASPMaster Stager, The Selling Advantage

Hi Joan,

You are so welcome! I hope your business is doing well.  No apology needed. I am glad to see you here.  It looks like we are both on the right track to success :)

Jan 06, 2010 05:16 AM
Robert L. Brown
www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic

You just never know where life will take you. Welcome aboard to Active rain.

Jan 14, 2010 05:44 AM
Deb Harshman
Long and Foster - Christie's International Real Estate & Owner of Staged Home Decor - Potomac, MD
REALTOR & ASPMaster Stager, The Selling Advantage

Thank you Robert. I jumped in and I am going to singing in the rain as much as I can. RainCamp in NYC on Tuesday was FABULOUS!

Jan 14, 2010 08:35 AM
Sheldon Neal
Bergen County, NJ - RE/MAX Real Estate Limited - Maywood, NJ
That British Agent Bergen County NJ

Nice Blog Deborah !!!

Funny how we end up where we are today sometimes huh !

So glad you came to RainCamp ! ... and I hope you had as much fun as I did :o)

Cheers !

Sheldon :o)

Jan 14, 2010 10:47 AM
Deb Harshman
Long and Foster - Christie's International Real Estate & Owner of Staged Home Decor - Potomac, MD
REALTOR & ASPMaster Stager, The Selling Advantage

Thanks Sheldon, it is really a big compliment coming from you. I had a blast!

Jan 14, 2010 11:05 AM
Linda D. Pufford
Stage with Divine Style - Home Staging - Novato, CA
ASPM, Marin/Sonoma Home Stager

Hi Deb,

It was so nice to read your introduction to Home Staging!  I guess I never heard the whole story before.  Now I know where all the talent of yours came from.  Your Staging always inspires me.  Can't wait to see some of your fabulous before and after Staging pictures here on AR.  You are just amazing!!!

Aug 10, 2010 08:12 PM
Deb Harshman
Long and Foster - Christie's International Real Estate & Owner of Staged Home Decor - Potomac, MD
REALTOR & ASPMaster Stager, The Selling Advantage

Thank so much Linda.  Your praise makes me feel so good because I feel the same way about you :)  Can't wait to see you again in October!

Aug 12, 2010 05:08 AM